Weekend in the Salzkammergut on Lake Attersee

Beginning of July 2021

On Friday afternoon at 4 o'clock, after work, my friend Julius and I set off for Austria. There we saved ourselves the toll sticker and drove via Obernberg am Inn on the country road. We saw many beautiful places and increasingly hilly landscapes, construction sites, and dirt roads. Just before 8 o'clock, we arrived in St. Georgen am Attersee and checked into the hotel, a family-run, very nice establishment. In the evening, we explored the town, which didn't offer much besides the main street. However, there were 3 bars and unlike in Germany, young people were allowed to party there without restrictions. We had a meal in one of the establishments before making ourselves comfortable on the balcony.

The next day, we wanted to go hiking and chose a challenging trail near Weißenbach, which was supposed to lead to a mountain called Brennerin. At first, we climbed straight up the slope through the forest. It was quite warm in the sun, so it was a good fit. After three-quarters of an hour, the forest became less dense and we walked alongside the rocks. Ropes made the rough terrain easier to navigate. Eventually, even a ladder led up a few meters, the abyss was never far away. Then we continued to ascend in switchbacks. We sweated and panted. We met other hikers in pairs who were already descending, but we had started very late. The trail was extremely demanding, but the views made it worthwhile. From the summit, we could see not only Lake Attersee but also Lake Mondsee and many high mountains. It was very beautiful. The descent was challenging, our strength waned and water became scarce. We had to be very careful with every step, especially because of the partly rocky ground. When we arrived back at the car at half past seven, after 7 hours, we were completely exhausted. We had dinner at our hotel and quickly fell asleep afterwards.

On Sunday, we took our time, had a relaxed breakfast, and then found a nice spot by the lake where we swam and read. In the early afternoon, we drove past Attersee, Mondsee, Wolfgangsee, and Fuschlsee to Salzburg. There, we strolled through the city, along the Salzach riverside promenade, past the Mozart House, and up to the fortress. Unfortunately, we weren't allowed in because we had forgotten our vaccination passports in the car. Finally, we headed back home.